Police issue online lottery scam warning

Russell Keers

Police are warning the public to be wary of correspondence they may receive regarding the International FIFA World Cup Online Lottery.

Detective Constable Crooks of the PSNI Economic Crime Unit said the scam is doing the rounds and police are aware people in Northern Ireland are being targeted.

The letter advises recipients that they have won £900,000 and provides contact details in order to process their supposed winnings.

Detective Constable Crooks said: “These scams have been doing the rounds for many years, under the headings of FIFA World Cup, Euro Millions, Spanish (El Gordo) and many others.

“We would advise that you should not be tempted to reply to any form of correspondence that you think might be a scam and report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or telephone 0300 123 20 40.”

A pensioner from Islandmagee, who wished to remain anonymous, got the letter from the ‘International FIFA World Cup Lottery’ on Wednesday morning (August 17).

The correspondence, which the man describes as being “well presented”, claimed he had won a prize of £900,000.

He said: “I received the letter claiming to be from a lottery, but I haven’t entered any competitions like this to be a winner.

“It is so well presented and so well done, so it is easy to see how people may be sucked in to things like this.

“My daughter has searched the details of the alleged company online and found police forces in England are currently investigating a number of incidents linked to them.”